High Noon

In the closing chapter of 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul is giving practical advice about giving, opportunities, and people.  And then in verse 13, he tells us the following:

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.   1 Corinthians 16:13 KJV

Act like a man!  Be brave!  Good advice for this present age.

We've been watching a lot of old movies lately.  If they are black and white, all the better.  Last weekend we watched "High Noon" with Gary Cooper(Kane), Grace Kelly (Amy), and Lloyd Bridges.  Excellent movie.  The classic epic showdown between good and evil.  Gary Cooper is the marshal in town and he marries Grace Kelly.  He's resigning his post as marshal and they are leaving after the wedding to move to another town and open a store.

As they are about to leave, three guys ride into town on horseback.  Bad looking dudes.  Shifty eyes.  Tough rascals.  They go down to the train station to wait on a train coming in at noon.  The train is carrying their buddy who has just been released from prison.  He's coming back into town to settle a score.  He and the three scoundrels vow to kill the marshal and the judge.

The townspeople tell the marshal to leave.  They can handle it.  The new marshal will be in town tomorrow.  The happy couple leave to start their new life.  The get down the road a ways in their carriage and Kane turns around.  He tells Amy that he has a responsibility.  Amy tells him his responsibility is to his new wife.  She tells him he doesn't have to play the hero.  

He tells her that he's not trying to be the hero and that she's crazy if she thinks he enjoys this.  He feels a sense of duty to do what's right AND, if he doesn't take care of business now, they'd never be able to have a life.  The bad guys would follow them wherever they went and their lives would be ruined.

He tries to get help.  Everyone has an excuse and turns him down.  The judge is packing up and leaving town before the pardoned murderer arrives at high noon.  Kane asks everyone - even his best friend.  No one will help him.  He even goes into the church service and asks the congregants to help.  They can't.  A shootout would be bad for business, they say.

He has to face the four by himself.  Amy is heartbroken.  She thinks she is going to be made a widow on her wedding day.  She's getting on the train to leave.  The convicted murderer arrives and the four begin going through town.  The town is deserted now.  All the cowardly townsfolk have barred their doors and are hiding.  Kane, however, is on the street, with his sidearm.  Doing his duty.  Acting like a man in an hour when mature leadership is needed.

It is high noon and the stakes are high.  What will happen?  You'll have to watch the movie to find out.  I highly recommend it.  It's high noon in our nation.  It's time for men to Watch, Stand firm, Act like men and be brave.  What will happen?  Pray.  We will find out soon enough.